Senior Reporter
jesse.ramdeo@cnc3.co.tt
Public Utilities Minister Barry Padarath says he shares some of the concerns raised by Minister of Homeland Security Roger Alexander regarding the public dissemination of sensitive material on social media, particularly in light of the recent police-involved killing of Joshua Samaroo and the injury of his wife, Kaia Sealy, in St Augustine.
Alexander’s comments followed widespread public outrage after CCTV footage of the incident circulated widely on social media. The video, which appeared to show Samaroo with his hands raised in the air outside his crashed car as police officers fired at him, prompted intense public debate and renewed scrutiny of police conduct.
Addressing reporters on Wednesday, Alexander emphasised the importance of the rule of law, cautioning against how such material is shared publicly. He also acknowledged that evidence was critical to public understanding and conceded that the police could have released relevant information sooner. However, he also said, “Looking at it from this angle, something needs to be done with those who do that, in terms of the law. You cannot put things out there, get public opinion on only what they saw for two minutes or a minute and a half, and then draw a conclusion. The time has come for that to change, and there must be law to address it. That might be the next angle we’re looking at.”
Alexander was criticised by the People’s National Movement and former police commissioner Gary Griffith for what was seen as a move to curtail freedom of speech.
Speaking with Guardian Media outside Parliament yesterday, Padarath said the situation highlighted long-standing legislative gaps, particularly in the area of cybercrime.
“You’d recall that under the former People’s Partnership administration, there was a cybercrime bill before Parliament that lasted and languished for a number of years and was left to collapse. The former administration did not pursue the cybercrime bill in the context and the environment in which we live in today, in a technological world,” Padarath said.
Under the PNM administration, cybersecurity legislation was advanced through the Cybercrime Bill (2017) and the Trinidad and Tobago Cyber Security Agency Bill, both of which were designed to modernise the nation’s digital defences and punish high-tech crimes.
The Cybercrime Bill proposed stiff penalties for offences such as identity theft, hacking, and computer-related fraud, while also introducing controversial provisions against “cyber-bullying” and the unauthorised acquisition of data, clauses that sparked significant debate regarding freedom of the press and whistle-blower protection. It, however, lapsed in the House of Representatives in 2020.
Padarath yesterday stressed that updated legislation is increasingly necessary, not only in relation to the current controversy but also to address broader societal challenges linked to social media and digital platforms.
“I think that legislation is needed not only on this particular issue that Minister Alexander has raised,” he said, adding that Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has also spoken about the need to protect children from harmful exposure online.
“There will be a holistic approach for us to look at all legislation involving cybercrime.”
While noting that Alexander’s comments should not be taken in isolation, Padarath said they must be understood within the wider context of modern governance and public responsibility.
“I do share some of the concerns expressed by the Minister of Homeland Security, but it cannot be taken in isolation. For a progressive society, you do need legislation, and that would just be one area of it,” Padarath said.
